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Scientific Opinion on the efficacy of Bactocell (Pediococcus acidilactici) when used as a feed additive for fish
Gabriele Aquilina, Alex Bach, Vasileios Bampidis, Maria De Lourdes Bastos, Gerhard Flachowsky, Josep Gasa-Gasó, Mikolaj Gralak, Christer Hogstrand, Lubomir Leng, Secundino López-Puente, Giovanna Martelli, Baltasar Mayo, Derek Renshaw, Guido Rychen, Maria Saarela, Kristen Sejrsen, Patrick Van Beelen, Robert John Wallace and Johannes Westendorf
Acknowledgment
The Panel wishes to thank the members of the Working Group on Micro-organisms, including Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Andrew Chesson, Anne-Katrine Lundebye Haldorsen and Ingrid Halle, for the preparatory work on this scientific opinion.
Contact
FEEDAP@efsa.europa.eu
Bactocell is a feed additive based on viable cells of a strain of Pediococcus acidilactici. This product is already authorised for several species including salmonids. EFSA was requested to assess the efficacy of Bactocell when used as a zootechnical additive (other zootechnical additives) in all fish. The FEEDAP Panel in an earlier opinion concluded that the additive was able to produce a beneficial effect by increasing the number of well-conformed salmonids. However, in the absence of any information on the mode of action, the Panel was unable to predict whether the additive would be effective in non-salmonid fish. In two studies performed with seabass, deformation of the spine was assessed by histological examination and image analysis, and in one study mineralisation was examined using a semi-quantitative staining method of calcification in the whole body. These showed that Bactocell has the potential to produce a beneficial effect in development, increasing the proportion of well conformed fish. The effects seen were comparable to those seen earlier in salmonids. Taking the data on seabass and salmonids together, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that Bactocell has the potential to reduce bone deformation in developing fish at the dose of 1 x 109 CFU/kg of complete feedingstuffs.
© European Food Safety Authority, 2012
Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of Bactocell when used as a zootechnical additive (other zootechnical additives) for all fish. Bactocell is a feed additive based on viable cells of a strain of Pediococcus acidilactici. This product is already authorised for several species including salmonids.
The FEEDAP Panel in an earlier opinion concluded that the additive was able to produce a beneficial effect by increasing the number of well-conformed salmonids. However, in the absence of any information on the mode of action, the Panel was unable to predict whether the additive would be effective in non-salmonid fish.
In two studies performed with seabass, deformation of the spine was assessed by histological examination and image analysis, and in one study mineralisation was examined using a semi-quantitative staining method of calcification in the whole body. These showed that Bactocell has the potential to produce a beneficial effect in development, increasing the proportion of well conformed fish. The effects seen were comparable to those seen earlier in salmonids.
Taking the data on seabass and salmonids together, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that Bactocell has the potential to reduce bone deformation in developing fish at the dose of 1 x 109 CFU/kg of complete feedingstuffs. This dose is derived from two studies with trout and one with seabass.
Zootechnical additive, Bactocell, Pediococcus acidilactici, seabass, efficacy, bone deformity
